Wrexham and Flintshire cat rescues at financial 'breaking point'

Earlier this month, The Leader reported that the Candy Tibby Trust, in Wrexham, is facing closure if it doesn't get help in paying off its veterinary  bill.

And two centres, Jackson's Animal Rescue, in Padeswood, and Second Chance For Cats, in Wrexham, say they are in severe strife.

Jackson's said: "Before 11am today (Thursday, August 11), we had phone calls about nine cats that need our help. That’s in the space of two hours, nine cats that we can’t help because we don’t have the space or the ongoing funds to do so anymore.

"We have 23 cat enclosures on site, and every pen is full. All of our cats are either reserved and waiting for final vaccine or neuter to go home, or not yet ready and undergoing vet treatment. We have lots of kittens full of flu that we are treating.

"We are at breaking point, and the worst part is that every other rescue is the same. All we see on our social media is every single rescue saying the same thing. This is just heartbreaking."

Jackson's said it has space on site to install more cattery units, and that it "absolutely intends" to do as soon as funds will allow.

It said: "At the moment our income can’t cover our costs and it’s getting very scary.

"We have lost around £1,000 this weekend from having to cancel two events due to the heatwave (both event involved dogs and we absolutely won’t risk it). This couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

"We hate to be constantly asking, but if everyone who followed our page could sign up to a £1 standing order each month, we could do so much more."

READ MORE: 'Real need' for Deeside pet foodbank, says founder

Second Chance For Cats said: "We've now sadly reached a critical stage. We are currently caring for over 30 cats, many of whom have ongoing health issues requiring specialist diets and are often having to attend vet appointments.

"Our bank balance is now dangerously low and as long we don't have any sudden hefty vet bills like the one we just had for Comet's dental (£578) we may have just enough to cover food, litter and other essentials for a few more weeks. After that we're scared of what the future holds.

"Devastatingly we will now have no other option than to turn away any new cases. Even if we had the foster space we just don't have the funds to support them. We will do whatever possible to help in other ways but there's just no space or money to take in more."

The centre said it is "doing everything we can" to keep going but due to a "huge drop" in support and donations since February it's "breaking our hearts thinking we may no longer be able to continue".

The centre added: "These cats have already been badly let down by people and we really don't want to fail them again. They're just innocent victims who deserve only the best."

As a voluntary run rescue, it has no regular source of funding and only due to the "unbelievable generosity" of volunteers and the public has been able to achieve "so much" up to now.

It added: "We hate having to ask during such an awful time for everyone but we have to. Things are so bad for every rescue right now. If you can please spare anything at all, even £1, it will give us a chance at getting back on track. Even a share of this post will help us massively."

Cat rescues say the biggest problem is both domestic and feral unneutered cats breeding more and more cats - many of which will then need rescuing.

Second Chance For Cats said: "If only pet owners were more responsible and neutered their cats as soon as they reached maturity and not abandoning them when they move home, get bored of them and the like, then rescues wouldn't have to pick up all these broken souls."

Neuteuring cats can be expensive, roughly £50-100, particularly so at a time when the cost of living is spiralling.

READ MORE: The four Flintshire dogs looking for their forever homes

But Cat Protection Wales is running a campaign to offer neuteuring at a low price of just £5. 

The guidelines for eligibility for neutering assistance apply to one or more of the following; receipt of certain means-tested benefits, low household income, full-time students living away from home, state-only pension and pension credit. Proof of eligibility will be required by the vet in order to participate in the scheme.

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3PoX24O

To donate to Second Chance For Wales, visit https://gofund.me/20bfbd3b

To donate to Jackson’s Animal Rescue, transfer funds to bank account number 83949621 and sort code 20-50-36.